A little unlucky in wrap install, what would you do?

[Newton]

Long time since I have been able to spend time up here, and even longer for pool cue work. A small baby boy have arranged for that :wink:

Anyway,I accepted a job to install a new stacked leather wrap on a high end ebony/ivory jacoby cue during Christmas. I got my hands dirty this week and was almost done when I hit the butplate with my ultra sharp leather knife.
I made a scratch which was very narrow and trying to buff it out-help a little -but it's still there. I stopped since I think buffing it all is not possible-I would wear to mutch on the clear.

My paint booth is not up and running so I can't shoot clear, so I have offered the owner
a) Subtract what he feels is propper value on my total quote.
B) I'll chip in when he decide to potentially have the cue re-finnished.

The cue is heavily used with dents and nicks. The clear is very "gray" and in the time frame I have not been able to buff it up to top notch shine (free of charge). A inlay in the butt is fractioned or possibly poped from the pocket (but not through the clear)-you can see the clear kind of loosened arround it. Ringwork is starting to slipp where clear is not good arround the metal rings.

Now-is my options fair or would you handle it differently? I feel a free re-finnish is not a option since the cue has several issues absolutely not related to me as mentioned, but it does not feel good adding an additional "scar" to the cue.

Any thoughts?

Hope my friends up here have had a nice recharge through the Christmas and New Years celebration, hopefully not stuck in the snowstorm some parts the US experience.

N

 

[cuejo]

I would probably knock the wrap price down by 40$ or something.
Is it possible to blend with ca and polish? Just to save any headache with placing value on it

 

[cueman]

If I messed up like that I would super glue refinish the butt sleeve free of charge. It does not matter that the butt has nicks already. You scratched it and you need to fix it. Giving it back in better shape than you got it will get you good publicity. Giving it back in worse shape will come back to haunt you.

 

[Newton]

I would probably knock the wrap price down by 40$ or something.
Is it possible to blend with ca and polish? Just to save any headache with placing value on it

That was a option I was considering but the scratch is so narrow and possibly deep that I concluded that it would most likely cause more problems than good to try park CA "just there".

 

[Newton]

If I messed up like that I would super glue refinish the butt sleeve free of charge. It does not matter that the butt has nicks already. You scratched it and you need to fix it. Giving it back in better shape than you got it will get you good publicity. Giving it back in worse shape will come back to haunt you.

I agree Chris, this is the first time I'm not "doing it all for free".
However CA the whole but is not a option since there seems to be a very thin fragile inlay which would cause a lot of problems if it's poped. That a can of worms I'm not eager to open...

I had a predator jumping out of the lathe while installing a wrap. Ryan helped me out and I gave EDIT: the customer a complete free refinnish, wrap install AND Ryan changed the handle for me since the cue was warped in the A joint. But this time it don't feel right...

 

[Dave38]

If you use a thin CA, and use a toohpick to drop it right on the scratch itself, it should wick in and dry. May take a few applications, build it up above the area, then sand just that sratch level with the surface, I use a wooden block with a small curve in it and 400 grit paper. then buff it. You must first make sure to clean it with denatured alcohol or similiar and make sure no dust is in the scratch.
hth,
Dave

 

[Newton]

I met the owner tonight.

A long night in the pool hall with the owner in addition to a different customer tonight. Did actually manage to PLAY some pool for the first time in looooong.

I went through the cue with the owner and discussed the different flaws on the cue and also reviewed the stacked leather and tip installs. He was actually happy with the work I had done and did not knock the total quote/price - well I gave him a good deal on new tips and he added a extra $15 off, but it´s something not even worth mentioning. I mentioned to him that I wanted him to contact me if he decided to have the cue re-finnished later down the road - I would chip in on the expenses or if I have my paint setup up and running I would do it.

The method mentioned using CA is one I'm using quite often on heavily ding'ed shafts. I did not dear to do this on the narrow scratch, but I guess I should have had larger balls and dear'ed to used the same procedure on the scratch. I would actually try it on a scrap cue when I'm back to my tools.

Thanks folks for your thoughts and feedback through posts and PM - it's highly appreciated - specially when you feel a little down after a unlucky move with your knife

N